Drifters (Cara)

[Xephirus Cloud]

The dashboard of Xephirus' ship screamed. Loud alarm sound and bright red lights fille the cockpit area. The ship that he had pieced together with bubblegum and papperclips was breaking apart. Xephirus sat amongst the chaos with an inexpressive look. For some strange reason he felt like he had been in this position before or at least this wasn't the biggest scare he had ever been around. A piece of debris flew off the front of the starfighter. "Well kriff..." was all he said as his ship began to come apart upon entering the atmosphere of Corellia.

-Kzzzt- What's you're clearance code?
A masculine voice came over the radio as he came in closer to hanger 46besh.

Xeph lifted the transceiver to respond only to notice that the wire to the panel was missing. He threw it on the floor.

With quickness he reversed the thrusters as to stop his crash from being to devastating. He released the landing gear and touched down only for the landing gear to crush beneath the weight of the ship.

Xephirus was miraculously unharmed save for a few scratches. He grabbed a duffle bag of his thing and left the ship only to be encountered by and angry Quarren.

"You can't park that here." The Quarren said. When the Quarren spoke Xephirus realized it was the voice on the radio.

Xephirus looked back at the ship and innocently said. "Uh.... happy lifeday, Murry! I got you this beautiful ship." He had given the ship a name just like any other ship creator would have. "You enjoy The Piece of Spit. May she take you on many adventures beyond the stars." Xephir turned to leave.

'Murry' was not ammused and grabbed Xephirus by the shoulder. Xephirus spun around and glared at the Quarren and shook his head. Xephirus' red-yellow eyes showed killer instinct and the Quarren realized he had made a mistake. 'Murry' let go of the Sith Lord's arm and took a step back hoping no more would come from this encounter. Xephirus stared for half a moment more and decided to keep walking.

 

[Cora Passek]

Cara had just been landed moments before in a highly remodeled J class Nubian. The beauty looked like she'd just come off the showroom floor, which was the trick. Miss Sampson specialized in bringing old ships back and breathing new life into them. Several pieces had been delivered to various museums around the universe.

She glanced over, hearing the commotion not too far from the ramp of her ship. Lofting an eyebrow, she'd seen the same thing far too many times, and knew well enough not to stick her nose in the middle. Though as she stepped off the ramp, closing it behind her, she looked to the ground seeing a piece of the debris still smoking from the ship.

Normally the woman would have left it go, but alas she knelt down and plucked it from the ground as she headed for the man. "Excuse me, sir?" She asked politely, "I believe this is a part of your primary buffer panel. Some miracle you even got her down. Though," She glanced back to his ship once more, "I get the feeling this is the least of your problems with that boat."

[member="Xephirus"]

 

[Xephirus Cloud]

Xephirus turned to the sweet sounding voice with a raised brow. He saw [member="Cara Sampson"] and smiled sincerely. The girl knew her ships.

"The ion repulsors are about 500 years past due." He nodded in response he too was a mechanic in his past life. He put that junker together with ancient parts and non-compatible parts. "It was either use those or rot in the voi--" he didn't want to say too much about that to a complete stranger. "...what's your name?" He said quickly changing the subject.

 

[Cora Passek]

[member="Xephirus"]

"Mmm, yeah I can tell." Smiling ever so brightly. "I engineer ships these days, on and off. And remodel the antiques for a hobby, as it were." Pointing back over her shoulder to the shiny looking Nubian, "That was my last project, done some work for museums as well." She shook her head, realizing she'd failed to introduce herself properly. Sticking out her hand to shake his, "Oh, where are my manners. My apologies I'm Cara, Cara Sampson." Normally she wasn't one to introduce herself to perfect strangers out of nowhere but something about old ships always drew her in. "And you are?"

 

[Xephirus Cloud]

[member="Cara Sampson"]

"Xephirus." He responded. "...Cloud." He said including what he believed to be his last name. He looked beyond the girl at some security types now speaking with the Quarren. Xephirus didn't have the time for them, nor did he want to hurt anyone but he knew he had strange violent tendencies he simply couldn't explain.

"I, um, have to run.... " He said moving away from the scene. "...nice meeting you." He wasn't sure if he broke any of this planet's laws but he wasn't about to stick around and find out. It was really in everyone's best interests if he didn't talk to any authorities.

 

[Cora Passek]

She glanced back over her shoulder to the security types. Reaching out she touched his arm gently. "Down the alley, go two blocks past the Ion Sandbox on the right puts you right into an open market. They will be hard pressed to find you there. Find a cloak, a hood something and go." She clearly had, had her own problems with law enforcement, and knew her way around the planet. He seemed like he needed a way out, and well Cara did have a soft spot for people in trouble. "Go now." She encouraged, soon enough she'd be heading the same direction. "Leriar's its a good bar, you'll be just a face in the crowd. Find it." Cara just planned to wait long enough to see if a distraction was needed. The guy seemed nice enough, and well, she just felt like helping this time.

[member="Xephirus"]

 

[Xephirus Cloud]

Xephirus felt her gentle fingernails upon his bare skin at the same moment he noticed the perfume on hers and noted the fragrance had a certain familiarity to it. He turned back to [member="Cara Sampson"] with a lingering gaze. He smiled at her a little shocked at her quick wit and obvious issues. He nodded and began walking away wondering what exactly to do with his life at this point.

He followed her directions to the letter. Soon as he hit the alley he pulled his Dark cloak from his bag and covered up. He arrived at the bar the woman mentioned and looked up at the broken sign. He began running his tongue over his right canine, a tick he had when he was anxious. He walked into the bar and strode up to the counter.

"Thirus Stout." He said. One of the few things he remembered about his past was his taste in beer. That was always his order.

 

[Cora Passek]

The smile Cara returned, before turning back and walking in the direction of the security folks. "Looking for that guy?" A nod from the officers followed, "I think he took the alley near Ori's old shop down that way." Pointing in the general direction of a nonexistent alley. Pausing she waited only to see the men on their way, before she went the back way to Leriar's.

Taking a few minutes, she finally came to the old joint. Though, slipping in now, she felt a little out of place. Her hair a little too neat, clothing a little too nice. She may have been a business woman now, but couldn't help but be annoyed by her choice of attire as it posed a serious problem when trying to avoid people in shady bars.

The blonde finally approached the counter and took a seat, "Corellian noale," There was another reason she felt out of place in a bar these days. Alcohol had been something she'd tried to avoid for the most part, after getting clean in her teen-aged years. Which is why now, she chose a non-alcoholic beverage.

"I see you found the place, well enough." Speaking to [member="Xephirus"], as she turned towards him.

 

[Xephirus Cloud]

Xephirus felt her approach from the rear moments before she sat next to him. Her unique scent in the crusty bar was enough to give her away then atop that she was dressed far nicer than any of the bar rats. Xephirus made note of everyone that was eying the breath of fresh air that she was. One eyed thugs, bull tusked beasts, slimy scoundrels and the lot all eyed her as if she was a nice juicy bantha steak. Xephirus darkly smiled at the thought of hurting them, though they had just met Xephir felt the obligation to return the favor that [member="Cara Sampson"] had bestowed upon him.

When he heard her drink order his brow arched. She came to the bar with no reason other than to check on him. If his heart still beat he would've been touched by the sentiment.

He eyed her a moment then eyed her 'admirers' before speaking, "I'm a pretty good listener." His response was a little chilled, not to be directed at her necessarily but her onlookers. He took a large drink from his Stein and let out a heavy sigh. His red-yellow eyes looked into her deep baby-blues, "So, what's a girl like you hanging out with a guy like me in a bar like this? You know I'm trouble." He said with a sly yet sincere smile. That was one thing that trademarked Xephirus, no matter how rough around the edges he was, he did have a unique smile. It started with his right upper lip parting, showing off the pearly white fang beneath. The part rolled across his mouth like a zipper until all his well kept teeth shown through. It was a light amidst the darkness he bottled up for so long.

 

[Cora Passek]

"So it would seem." Her lips curled into a bright smile, though not oblivious to the lurking stares she got in a place like this. It for the most part, was ignored. Just easier that way for her.

Shrugging, she looked to her drink as the barkeep set it down in front of her, staring at it. For a moment, regretting her choice. You stick out too much in dingy bars these days. Sad eyes looked back up to him, "Saw something of myself in you, I suppose. It wasn't all that long ago when I had plenty of trouble following two steps behind me."

Glancing over her shoulder, she gave a quick look around the bar noting the exits and which of Leriar's regulars were in. It was a slight paranoid habit. "If I'm honest, I've still got plenty of reasons to check over my shoulder still. Figured I'd pay it forward, few folks helped me out when I needed it most, and somehow I managed to get a semi-stable footing in life." In truth she didn't really want to speak much more on the matter. Trusting strangers with her life story wasn't exactly in her makeup anymore. The girl had simply been burned one too many times for that. Turning back to him she sighed before taking a sip of her beverage. "Hasn't been easy, but it is what it is. At least I'm not always running now."

[member="Xephirus"]

 

[Xephirus Cloud]

Xephirus looked at her... just looked at her as she spilled her heart out. Her vulnerability was somehow endearing. Xephirus didn't really know who he was before this point but he knew there was much he needed to make amends for. For the past few months, after he woke up, he had just been drifting. He honestly began to believe he'd never remember who he was... and maybe that was for the best.

"You don't seem like much of a fighter." He said earnestly, "So... I take it you're a martyr then?" He said somewhat jokingly. If she wasn't running fast enough someone was going to catch her and hurt her.

He looked down at his drink, "But uh..." He paused. "...if you'd like.... I could probably get whoever it is who's after you to leave you alone." He shrugged. He didn't know why he was willing to help in such a capacity... after all they had only just met. He was convinced it was not cause he liked her in any way shape or form but because he simply had nothing better to do... and cause he liked fighting so much.

[member="Cara Sampson"]

 

[Cora Passek]

"You'd be surprised. No one, is exactly what they appear to be, me included." A shrug came, as she sighed a little staring down at her drink. He might have been joking, but unfortunately he wasn't that far off. "In a way, I ... was." The sadness crept into her tone. "Or maybe I was just the fool all along."

Cara shook her head, "If only my problems could be solved so simply. I'd happily let you, just so I might know what it is to be free again. But I fear, a nation would have to fall before it would end for me." A thin little smile formed upon her lips, "Until then, I'm Nemo; no one. Have to be." Translating the old term, into proper basic. The name she'd given him was not her true name. She'd been hiding behind masks for so long that she honestly wasn't sure she knew what it was like to step outside of that, and be who she truly was. Right now, that thought hurt her more than she ever thought it would.

"Maybe one day things will change. Until then I'm alone in a galaxy of trillions. Haven't been able to trust anyone in a long time." Another sad little sigh came as she exhaled slowly. "It's not like there is anyone to blame. It is my fault that I got into the mess I have."

Resting her elbow on the bar, she leaned her head into her hand, nervously rubbing at her forehead. "I'm sorry." She apologized quickly. "I shouldn't be laying this on you. You don't even know me..." In part she felt a sense of guilt twisting within her, it wasn't like her to talk like this with someone like him. But she could hardly help it at this point. No details had been given, so the young blonde saw little harm in it for now.

[member="Xephirus"]

 

[Xephirus Cloud]

Xephirus shook his head and let out a small chuckle. "I don't really know myself."

Xephirus took another drink finishing off his glass. He looked to her, he knew exactly how lonely the Galaxy could be. He'd been alone for centuries.

He knew exactly what she meant when she said she couldn't trust anyone. That was a creed that stuck with Xephir even now. "...but sometimes you have to roll the dice... I fear nothing and yet I'm going to convince myself to be afraid of you? ...sorry buttercup... but I've probably faced worse than you." Maybe the alcohol was loosening his tongue but he was beginning to think more clearly than he ever had. "Even the most unlucky can't loose every time." He said awkwardly patting her on the back in attempts to make her feel better.

 

[Cora Passek]

She nodded slowly a softer smile starting to form. It seemed they might have had more in common than she initially thought.

His comment actually drew a bit of sweet laughter from her lips. "It's quite possible that you have. In fact I don't doubt it given the nature of the galaxy. Faced many a demon myself, before I got into ship design. I was .... how shall I say this, working in," Cara bit at her lip, thinking of the term to use. "Creative demolitions." A polite term, for improvised explosive expert. The reasons why, were rather complex. A long story that she simply needed a drink or two before she could dare speak it aloud.

Lifting her head, she flagged down the bartender, "Corellian Whiskey, please." She was done drinking kiddie drinks. It seemed this night called for a return to her old ways.

The light touch against her back, startled her slightly. Though glancing to him, she was finally truly smiling again. "I may be the unluckiest sap of them all. But you've got a good point. It's not like I've ever been one to give up, and I sure as feth am not starting now." She chuckled as the glass was set before her. Reaching out took a sip from it, savoring it for a moment. It'd been far too long since she last had a decent drink.

[member="Xephirus"]

 

[Xephirus Cloud]

Her job title peaked his interest and it was apparent by looking at his face. His brow raised at the thought of her being responsible for anyone's death. Of course, she could've just been blowing up condemned buildings somewhere... but he kind of knew better than that. Perhaps the reason she was so sad was because she was ridden with guilt. Xephirus felt like he really had begun to piece the Cara puzzle together. He was sort of relieved to see her happy at least for this moment. One thing Xephirus definitely had a soft spot for was pretty lonely girls.

Seeing [member="Cara Sampson"] dip into the heavy stuff he raised his fingers to show the bartender to leave two without using his words. He saw the way she slowly enjoyed her drink. It all began to make sense to him. He cocked back his drink. He wasn't one to 'enjoy' a drink but rather its affects. He made a face and shook his head. She opened up about her life but he had yet to say anything about his own, "I think I'm a Sith." He said with an awkward side smile. "...but I don't really remember." He looked at her wondering if she'd leave because most people tended to steer clear of Sith on principle. "I woke up in a Killik hive with all these memories that weren't mine... and at the same time they were." Trying to explain how a hive mind worked was extremely difficult. "The rest of my hive was wiped out... allowing me to break free." He drummed his fingers on the counter.

"I don't know what I was doing there but I forgot who I am as an individual... and I don't know exactly how long I was there. Probably a long time considering what I know about the Killik infrastructure." He twirrled around his empty glass and sighed. "I feel like I'm.... by the force, this sounds so lame.... but I feel like I'm missing something." The feeling was hard to explain but his heart just felt empty like there was nothing left of him. He called for the bartender once more and downed another drink. He was definitely starting to feel it.

 

[Cora Passek]

Her brow furrowed in response to his admission. Her stomach instantly twisting into knots as she debating briefly what she would do, how she would react to such. For now, she chose an option that six months ago, Cara never would have dreamed of; she simply listened.

His past sounded nearly as troubled as hers but mixed into all of that was him, being on the darkside. Something that concerned her greatly. The girl had simply lost so much to them. "I can't pretend for a moment that I understand, to know what you've been through. It sounds like a living hell, and I'd wish that upon no one." A sigh came and went. "I understand what you mean though, about something being missing. I know that feeling far too well. It's something I wish would just go away, but that feeling is still there nagging at me all along."

She looked back to him briefly, still debating if she'd stay or leave. Finally Cara decided to throw caution to the wind. "The circumstances I'll admit, are strange. Six months, a year ago... I'd have walked out the door from that simple word, Sith." Might have even tried to kill you...Thought to herself as Cara bit at her lip, "You see ... my entire family is dead. All of them. Not even a distant cousin left. There is just me." Quickly she tip back her glass downing the rest of her drink, before staring ahead for a moment.

"This, ain't exactly a story I tell these days. Not supposed to. Suppose to stay beneath the mask, beneath the story created for me to hide. But you know what? I just don't care anymore. Sith, killed my family, for whatever reason they could concoct. The reason doesn't matter much, they are still gone. That's the the reality I live with everyday." Leaning forward she brushed her hair back from her face, unsure of how this conversation was going to turn out. "Decided a long time ago, that I'd go out for revenge, not that it exactly has turned out well for me." Shrugging she motioned for another drink from the barkeep.

[member="Xephirus"]

 

[Xephirus Cloud]

He stole the laughter from her lips and for that he begrudged himself. He needed to tell her but perhaps not at that moment when she at least temporarily forgot her troubles. He so desperately wanted to bring back her smile because the moment she did he somehow forgot his troubles too. It was a strange feeling for Xephirus to want to make someone happy so badly and know in his heart he was somehow evil at some point in his life. He wondered what took him to that path, what progressive problems could have placed him in such a precarious position that he felt he needed to the dark side.

"I'm sorry." Was all he said. He imagined it was hard on her losing her family and by the same token he just knew that he too had lost his. He did not know any more than that all he knew was that he did lose them and a pain flowed into his heart. Suddenly he felt his new life in spite of the 'hell' he endured was far better than his old wounds. Perhaps his forgetting was a blessing in disguise.

Pins and needles formed in his throat as he was overcome suddenly with unexplained emotion. "I- know how you feel." He said, his voice resonating with sorrow. As the bartender returned Xephirus reached out and grabbed the bottle. He looked down at the young woman's hand breifly. In his emotional state he longed for closeness and yet knew with his reveal she would not desire the same. Compounding mistakes was not on his list of things to do and so instead he reached out for his glass to pour the bottle marked poison spelled W-H-I-S-K-E-Y.

 

[Cora Passek]

Cara sighed heavily. "It's not your fault. It wasn't you." Spoken quietly, as she downed the next glass of whiskey, no longer really caring about her drinking. "It was a long time ago." At least that was the lie she told herself to try and better deal with the emotional turmoil within.

Another sigh came and went as she stared off for a moment, thinking to everything that had happened to her, all the events that had brought her to this moment. "I still .... still want them dead for that. Want them to suffer like I did." Her hands had started to shake, of the rage she had buried within. "I lost everything, my home, my family, any sense of a normal and happy life all was gone in a matter of days. I've been running ever since, always looking over my shoulders wondering if the footsteps behind me are the person who's going to put a knife in my back and end it all."

Watching, her eyes followed as he took the bottle and poured himself another glass. Another sigh came, and she reached out and laid a hand on his shoulder briefly. He wasn't the only one who felt a need for comfort. She wanted it, but couldn't ask. It was just too hard. "A year ago, I would have blamed you too, just for thinking that you might be one. But ... not knowing, not remembing. I can't fault you for what you don't know. "

With a huff, she ran both her hands through her hair. "I think, I think ... I'd like to know you better. It wouldn't be fair of me, to judge you for what might have been." She shrugged before reaching out to take the bottle to pour herself another glass. "I'm guessing, you too don't have much family left, if at all, do you?" A guess on what he'd said of how he knew how she felt. "It seems we might have a bit more in common than I first thought."

[member="Xephirus"]

 

[Xephirus Cloud]

Her dark thoughts he understood. Her frustration of self was noted. It seemed to Xephirus that she wanted so much to push him away and yet the inkling thought of seeing more of him apparently intrigued her greatly.

He too wished he knew more about himself, he hoped that he was not a danger to her should this become something. He wondered if he or she had been responsible for more death. Which one of them had caused more sadness in this galaxy. "Well maybe... if you're alone and I'm alone we can be alone, together." He smiled at the thought. It'd be nice to know someone was there when he woke from his nightmares.

"I could use a travel buddy... just someone to talk to in the darkest reaches of the galaxy would be nice. You're probably a better pilot and I can watch your rear...." Xephirus squinted thinking that didn't come out the way he wanted it to. "Um... I mean cause you said you were always looking over your shoulder..." his cheeks turned rosy and he persued his drink with much fervor. He slammed two more glasses in order to escape his embarrassment. He tried to hold in laughter at this predicament but a small chuckle would escape every now and then. This was the first time in a long time that he was feeling this good from mind altering substances.... let alone good at all.

[member="Cara Sampson"]

 

[Cora Passek]

If the truth was told, Cara felt that maybe she had judged people in her past a little too harshly. Dark, didn't necessarily mean evil. That was a lesson she'd learned recently and was willing to give him more leeway than she ever had before. Not to mention there was just something about him, that left her curious, with a desire to help. He'd managed to speak the right words, be in the right place, and at the right time. All to reach inside to her heart of gold that was hidden beneath all of the distrust on the outside.

Her lips curled into a bit a smile, "I'd like that. A lot. Alone together, sounds a hell of a lot better than just alone." That idea seemed like one of the best things for her. It was something that she actually needed. "Truth be told, I just need a friend. Maybe a bit of purpose, I think that's what I need in my life right now."

Cara chuckled as he spoke of watching her rear. "Well, if there is one thing love in this galaxy, it's got to be piloting and flying. Nothing makes me happier than that. So, I can manage it." She just grinned, "I get what you're saying, it'd be great to have someone else to be looking out for me. Certainly could use someone to talk to myself, talking to the ship, gets old fast. But when you're on your own, you get used to it." Joking a little bit, clearly in a better mood now.

Once again she pour herself another glass of whiskey, taking a small sip from it as she was starting to feel the effects of her drinking. "There is one thing though. I just need time on, a little more time to trust you a little more, but there is a secret, I have that I'm just not quite ready to say aloud. So, if you are okay with that, to just give me a little time... I'm sure I will feel comfortable enough to share it eventually. If that works, you have yourself a pilot Xephirus." It wasn't the biggest secret, but in a way it was to her. It was just the truth of her name. She'd told him the story, her life that she never told others. The name was just the final piece in the puzzle.

[member="Xephirus"]